FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
In girls basketball action, District 32-6A reigned supreme over District 31-6A this week by going an unblemished 4-0 in head-to-head bi-district games.
Weslaco High, Harlingen High, Harlingen South and San Benito all earned first-round playoff victories to advance to the Class 6A area round. Three teams are set to play in the Corpus Christi area, while Weslaco High will travel to San Antonio.
The La Feria Lionettes also advanced to the Class 4A area round. With the win, the Lionettes extended their win streak to seven in a row.
SAN BENITO VS. LAREDO UNITED: The San Benito Lady Greyhounds made a statement this week with a 56-39 victory over Edinburg High on Monday. The Lady ’Hounds were able to jump out on 17-4 lead to secure a spot in the area round where San Benito will take on Laredo United on at 7p.m. today at Corpus Christi Ray High School.
“We didn’t go into the Edinburg game thinking we couldn’t play with them,” said San Benito head coach Abel Moreno. “In our last six losses, four of them came at the hands of our district’s top two teams and they were all battles. I feel a sweep by District 32-6A shows how tough the district was.
“Take nothing away from District 31-6A, but I just think teams one through eight in our district were so tough that every night was a battle. So going into an intense game like the bi-district game against Edinburg High didn’t faze our girls. For them it was just another night that they needed to bring it to compete.”
Now the Lady ’Hounds turn their focus onto a Laredo United team that defeated McAllen High 61-50 in the first round of the playoffs.
“We feel confident that we can compete with any team here in South Texas,” added Moreno. “We played at the Border Olympic Tournament in Laredo in early December and came back with a winning record after playing teams from Laredo, San Antonio and Corpus Christi area.
“It allowed us to get a glimpse of what we could possibly experience in an area or regional game, so it helps increase our confidence heading into tonight’s game.”
HARLINGEN SOUTH VS. SOUTH SAN ANTONIO: The Harlingen South Lady Hawks played a thrilling contest against Edinburg Vela on Monday. Harlingen South held a sizable lead throughout the game, however, a few mistakes late in the game allowed Vela to get back into the bi-district game.
Down the stretch, Harlingen South got some big performances from freshman Karla Reyes, who scored 15 points, and senior Leah Noe, who added another 12 points in the Lady Hawks’ 46-42 victory.
Tonight the Lady Hawks take on the South San Antonio Lady Bobcats at 7 p.m. at Flour Bluff High School. The Lady Bobcats enter the game on a four-game win streak, including an 87-65 victory over McAllen Memorial in the bi-district round.
“The girls are excited for the game,” said Harlingen South head coach Kelly Garrett. “South Central is a very good team, but we just have to play our game and not get caught up in their type of game.”
HARLINGEN HIGH VS. No.18 LAREDO ALEXANDER: The Harlingen Lady Cardinals started the postseason season with a 48-37 bi-district victory over PSJA Memorial on Tuesday. With the win, the Lady Cards secured a Class 6A area-round matchup with the Laredo Alexander Lady Bulldogs tonight at 7 at Corpus Christi Carroll High school. Alexander is ranked 18 by the Texas High School Basketball Coaches Association.
This season the Lady Bulldogs went an unblemished 14-0 in district competition. Meanwhile, the Lady Cardinals went 12-2 in District 32-6A.
Harlingen returns just two girls with area-round playoff experience in junior Nadia Flores and sophomore Ariel Leal.
LA FERIA VS. No.9 DEVINE: After grabbing a big 57-47 win over Rockport-Fulton, the La Feria Lionettes have now set their sights on ninth-ranked Devine at 6 p.m. today in Alice High School.
The Lady Warhorses are on a 10-game win streak after defeating the Poteet Lady Aggies 63-29 Monday.
The last time La Feria progressed passed the area round was the 2007-08 season.
“The team is very excited, yet focused on playing a tough Devine team,” said La Feria head coach Angel Martinez. “We’ve prided ourselves on defense all year and it’s going to take a great defensive effort today.
“If we play as well as we did against Rockport-Fulton, we’ll definitely be in it to the end.”
The Lionettes have won 13 of their past 15 games heading into tonight’s contest.